Joe : Judimendoza

Arco De La Frontera

Added 02/25/11
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Mercado Central In Valencia

Added 02/03/11
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Egipto Libre

Added 01/30/11
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The Ave Train

Added 01/28/11
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The Ave Train

[LESS INFO] 0 VIEWS | ADDED 11:10:02 01/28/11
The Ave is the Spanish high-speed railway service that can travel at speeds up to 186 mph. We took it from Madrid to Barcelona and arrived in three hours even with a stop in Zargoza. It was very comfortable and we had an opportunity to see the Spanish countryside and catch up on some reading. I emphatically believe that we need this kind of service up and down the West Coast and with the commitment that President Obama has made to improve transportation infrastructure we may get it within the next generation. (These things take time) We got off the train at the Barcelona station and caught a cab to the Born neighborhood, in the old part of Barcelona, where we had rented an apartment. During the ride I had the stomach wrenching realization that I had left my video camera on the seat of the train. I told Gene what had happened and he asked, “Are you sure?” I was positive. We decided that we would continue to the apartment and drop Gene off so that he could meet with the landlord and pick up the keys. I would take the cab back to the station and try to find the camera. I explained what we wanted to do to the cab driver and he said that he would wait for me while I went to the lost and found area inside the station. I kept thinking that I had no chance of recovering the camera and that my video making days were over. I was pretty miserable. When I got back to the station, I jumped out of the cab and ran into the station looking for the lost and found office. I found it right away and was heading in when I was stopped by a couple of men that were blocking the doorway. “We are closed until 16:30”. It was 16:10. The cab was waiting and I thought that maybe I could ask someone to look in the train for the camera if it hadn’t pulled out of the station for it’s return trip. “I can’t wait, I left an expensive camera on the Madrid train that just arrived” I frantically explained. The men would not budge. I ran up to a tourist information booth and explained my plight but they said the lost and found office was my only option. The cab was waiting and I was upset. I didn’t know what else to do so I went back to the office with the men standing in the doorway and I asked that they make an exception and let me in even though the office was officially closed. One of them looked at me and while shooing away others that were trying to get by, he ushered me in with the wave of a hand. There was a woman sitting behind a counter looking intently at something in front of her, she did not look up when I stood in front of her. I waited a few seconds trying to be polite but finally saw that she was not going to acknowledge my presence. “Excuse me”, I said and she finally gave me her attention. I explained what had occurred and she listened, unmoved. I imagine she had heard my story many times that day. “Train ticket? “ she asked. Yes, I had the stub in my purse. “Video camera?” she asked. “Yes” I replied. She reached over to her right, and with one smooth movement held the camera up to me. “Is this it?” It was! I could not believe my fortune. I almost cried with relief. “A million thanks” I managed to say with a quivering voice. I must have looked very relieved because she actually smiled. Another crisis averted and I vow to keep a better eye on my belongings.

Malasana

Added 01/24/11
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Bakery Elves

Added 12/31/10
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Ferry To Port Townsend

Added 11/18/10
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Where Did The Time Go?

Added 10/28/10
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Joe

Added 09/18/10
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Joe

[LESS INFO] 0 VIEWS | ADDED 20:55:24 09/18/10
When I was young my family moved a lot and I had to make new friends every couple of years. My brother was three years older than me so we became close and helped each other get through each move that the family made. He also helped me get around the structure of our family. My father was a conservative Mexican-American and had strict views about dating and dress that I fiercely rebelled against. When I went out in the evening I was required to take a chaperone, my brother, but as soon as we were out of sight of the house, we split up and agreed to meet at a later time. I would have gone crazy without his help during those years but I’m not sure if I ever formally thanked him. I hope I did because now it’s too late to reminisce about those days. Joe died suddenly in June at the age of 57. When people die, when a brother dies, we are inclined to tell the good stories that we remember. But my brother’s life was complicated and troubled and that can’t be denied. We had been estranged for a decade until the year before his death. My sister’s wedding was the occasion that brought us together again and was actually the event that reunited him with his children as well as he had not been a part of their lives while they were growing up. Being with him and his kids and Renee, his ex-wife, that night was weird and magical and healing. Afterwards, while we were still wary, we began the process of building a new relationship and though it’s hard to find anything positive about the timing of his death, I am so glad that we had that opportunity to reconnect and make amends. This is a difficult blog to post. How much should I reveal? But this blog has always been intended to let family and friends know what is occurring in my family’s life so I will share pain as well as joy with all of you. I loved my brother and I will miss him. May he rest in peace.